Twin Blades of the Deep Sea

Full Item Description
Bright blue curved moonstone blades engrained and sealed with the purest cleansing sands contained within the Great Sea Chalice of the Ocean demigoddess Relagani. These blades have the ability to dispel any unholy effect on contact with a substance in a four and three-quarters foot radius around the blade. When not in use, these blades are not sheathed. They simply float around the bearer and are controlled by a slim triangular telepathic link between swords and bearer. They may also float on their own if not being controlled.
The blades have the souls of the twin water sprites Salamaelar’da’ashti and Trilamandin’da’ashti willingly bound within their moonstone edges. Both sprites are male and have bitingly sarcastic tongues. Besides being able to send telepathic messages between each other and the bearer, they can also project their voices out, which they do in excess. Because of the triangular nature of the telepathic link, they can also hide their train of thought from the bearer and communicate only between themselves rather than to both other beings. This also works in other ways. The bearer can choose to communicate with only one blade, although what was thought usually ends up being shared anyways.

History
During the Third Ashti Clan War in the 3347th year of the Second Age of the Moonfold (a great lunar eclipse settled over the Shallowlands every year for sixteen days and three hours), two great heroes came forward to champion the Relag’ashti in their last desperate charge against the more numerous and vastly more numerous and antagonistic Ziab’ashti. The Ziab were slowly gaining seafloor and were pushing to the submerged fortress citadel of Relaganali where the Ocean demigoddess Relagani reigns with the Great Sea Chalice and its powerful, purest cleansing sands. The two heroes were the twin sea-sprite warriors, Salamaelar’da’ashti and Trilamandin’da’ashti. Known throughout the kingdom as great masters of the blade (which is rare among seafolk), even remarking at times that they could rather be a sword than themselves, they were known and loved by all Relag’ashti, and even some Ziabs.
Wielding scimitar and shield and their moonstone seascales, the brothers rallied the Relags in one last furious charge. Hour after hour, the brothers fought side by side. The hours turned into three days. Both suffered numerous grievous and lethal wounds. The water flowed red around them. They fought on until the third day; the Ziabs simply stopped fighting and declared a truce out of simple respect for their determination, contrary to their nature. Salamaelar’da’ashti and Trilamandin’da’ashti concurrently uttered “The peace of the Shallowlands hath been restored,” and died. More than five hundred Ziabs had fallen to the brother’s blades. The demigoddess appeared with the Great Sea Chalice in the midst of the Ashti between the two fallen brothers and announced, “All here know the sacrifice of these two brethren and their role in the restoration of peace in the Shallowlands. Know that their wishes shall be granted. These two brave warriors shall be buried in the old ways. The Deep Ritual.
The Deep Ritual was fulfilled in the only Deepwater cavern in the Shallowlands where the sun does not reach. The spirits of Salamaelar’da’ashti and Trilamandin’da’ashti which the demigoddess had held in the bodies until the ritual, were set free to swirl in the great Deepwater cavern for a few moments. Relagani then took two handfuls of the cleansing sand of the Great Sea Chalice and sprinkled them over each of the twins’ swords, opening them to the magical energies in the cavern and the essences of the demigoddess. The spirits of Salamaelar’da’ashti and Trilamandin’da’ashti thrust themselves into their blades and announced from within the blades, “We reside!” The demigoddess then smiled and answered, “As you wish great warriors,” and sealed them in with one more handful of the purest sand from the Chalice. The Twin Blades of the Deep Sea were then passed down from generation to generation of Ashti Chiefs. When many ages had come to an end and the Shallowlands had become the Barrenland. The great fortress of Relaganali had become the topmost cavern of the tallest mountain of Ragadli (which ironically is not related to the name Relaganali) in the Barrenland. The Twin Blades of the Deep Sea were at last thrust into the mound that was the solidified remains of the purest sands in the last dying breath of the forgotten ancient demigoddess Relagani. And there they rest.

Magic/Cursed Properties
First and foremost, the Twin Blades of the Deep Sea cannot be sheathed. When attempted, they glow with a fierce light blue light and the intended sheath bursts into a blinding flash of moonlight. Instead the Twin Blades must be allowed to float around the bearer or naked against his or her garments, but never covered. Even the sheerest cloth will cause the Moonflash.

The following powers are due to the triangular telepathic link formed between the bearer and the Twin Blades.
The Twin Blades of the Deep Sea never use their real names for that would allow a mortal some measure of power over them. Instead, they use the names Salm and Tril. Salm was left-handed so resides in the left-handed blade while Tril was right handed so resides in the right.
The Twin Blades may speak either through the link or projected out of the blade. Salm and Tril are incredibly sarcastic and have the tendency to talk both telepathically and aloud while you are attempting to concentrate on something. The blades are also able to hide certain thoughts from the bearer between themselves although this particular ability dwindles with familiarity and disposition.
The Twin Blades can be wielded like normal bladed weapons, or can be flown through the air in an average of eight feet and one-inch radius around the wielder in compliment to another weapon(s) or shield the bearer wields. This distance may vary with how familiar you are with the Twin Blades and their disposition to you at any particular time.
The Twin Blades may be thrown and called back to the bearer at will telepathically. Only the bearer of the telepathic link at the time (which does not transfer simply with the blades) may use this.
The Twin Blades have no weight when wielded because the blades sense what the wielder is trying to do and move in that direction. Along these lines, it is impossible for the blades to cut the bearer no matter how hard he or she tries unless he or she does something truly evil and unnecessary, the blades will turn on the bearer and kill him or her.
The Twin Blades’ telepathic link can only be transferred from bearer to bearer willingly and as a gift, not just one or the other. The Twin Blades must also agree to this. When the bearer dies, the blades either go back to their previous owner or find one of their own that they deem worthy.

The Twin Blades are invincible and cannot be destroyed unless by divine intervention. The blades also impress some skill with the blades and two-weapon style onto the bearer (which increases or decreases based on familiarity and disposition) due to the Twin Blades’ memories from passed bearers.

The Twin Blades of the Deep Sea have one actually devastating power. Celestial Cleansing. Due to the pure and perfect nature of the sand of the Great Sea Chalice engrained in the moonstone, the blades have the ability to cleanse anything and everything evil and unholy in a four and three-quarters foot radius (average) around the blade on contact. This too changes with familiarity and disposition. When this ability is activated, the moonstone of the blade glows light blue and the engrained sand particles glow in a fierce red-orange and leaves a slight contrail behind as it swings. Salm glows more brightly light blue while Tril glows more fiercely red-orange. When they encounter something evil or unholy, the effect lasts for approximately ten seconds although this also varies with familiarity and disposition.

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Well executed, nicely described, and useful blades. The write up could flow a little better. Still a nice first post. Hope to see more. 4/5 with a +.5 for first post.

A couple of things that could make this a perfect submission. I am only pointing out these extra things because you were so close to perfection. A couple of things and it would be so.

>Extra return between paragraphs. It makes reading them easier.

>One power or point or effect per section. You keep combining several of them AND they are not the different expressions of the same effect, they are totally different powers.

>You should just have one section "up front" that say, all the powers are granted as the whim of the swords. So that players have to treat these like NPCs and get in their good graces to be granted any abilities. "familiarity and disposition" is vague and needs explaining.

> Do the blades get to choose their bearer or it who ever picks up the blades? The telepathic link section seems to imply they do. If the can choose and that person is not around, can they come to him or do they just sit there stuck? And why would they leave a previous bearer who was still alive (few adventurers really retire, despite what Tolkien and Bilbo imply), so they could revert back to them? (return to me, he thinks and the swords should fly back... per the throw section).

> Can these things float around when NOT bonded to a bearer? Can they go anywhere?

>What power would knowing the two's true names grant? Is there not a myth about those two warriors that has survivied? Wouldn't somebody guess it?

>They can be used as normal blade or float around and fight on their own. (can be flown through the air awkward) Okay, when thrown they can exceed the 8 foot radius? And they can come back to the owner? So why can't they go farther than that normally? We get the gist, but better wording would be useful.

And when they strike on their own, how well do they strike (I am assuming "master level", that of the spirits, but just to make sure....)

>The Twin Blades are invincible, dont you mean invunerable? That should end as a sentence (.) and the next begins They can only be ....

>The skills section should be near the top... you added it here as an afterthought why?

> The Twin Blades have no weight when wielded because the blades sense what the wielder is trying to do and move in that direction. Along these lines, it is impossible for the blades to cut the bearer no matter how hard he or she tries unless he or she does something truly evil and unnecessary, the blades will turn on the bearer and kill him or her.
Okay, entire section awkward. weapons without weight do little to no damage unless the blades have magical cutting power (mass = power, which modified by edge determines damage). The unable to injure bearer section should be seperate and explained.

> So how often can they emit the destroy all Evil field? And if you are surrouned by Evil, why ever seperate your blades? You could walk through the horde and destroy them all. Does it last for a short time and take some recharge time?

Do the blades get to choose their bearer or it who ever picks up the blades?

The blades have only chosen their bearer in that they can refuse to pass on the link to the next bearer. This will rarely happen because the blades must be given up willfully. Usually the only way this will happen is if the bearer deems the reciever worthy and has consulted the blades about this. The blades have also never been drawn from the sands up to this point. The knowledge of the telepathic link comes from only the previous merfolk bearers. If they were ever drawn, the blades may not reveal the telepathic link if they do not approve of their bearer.

If the can choose and that person is not around, can they come to him or do they just sit there stuck?

The blades cannot "choose" someone unless they come into direct contact with them. They will gradually scry into the bearer's mind and determine if they will allow the bearer into the triangular link. They cannot fly out of their stone. They are simply stuck in the sandstone.

And why would they leave a previous bearer who was still alive (few adventurers really retire, despite what Tolkien and Bilbo imply), so they could revert back to them?

The blades will only leave a bearer if the bearer does something terrible and despicably evil for the blades are quite holy and valiant within themselves. As I said before, the blades may be given willingly let us say hypothetically: an heir of the throne or a high clanseat on his or her deathbed may give the blades up to an heir or one may give it to another to complete a quest. When this person dies, the blades will most likely travel back to the lender.

Can these things float around when NOT bonded to a bearer? Can they go anywhere?

This is probably the most complex question to answer. The blades are NOT able to fly around on their own. However, when a bearer dies, the link automatically switches back to the previous owner (if he or she is alive). Because the swords are able to sense location through the link and the bearer is aware that they have been "re-linked", the blades are now able to travel on their own straight back to the wearer. They cannot be controlled at this distance unless some crteria have been met (I will discuss this later.) If they are trapped in some way like inside a cave, they may not be able to return to the bearer and he or she may have to come and retrieve them.

What power would knowing the two's true names grant? Is there not a myth about those two warriors that has survivied? Wouldn't somebody guess it?

The power granted when a bearer knows the true names are basically just amplified versions of every power. This includes control over the blades at a distance. With the knowledge of the true names, the bearer and the blades really become conscious extentions of themselves giving the bearer complete and willing control over the blades at any distance and through any and every non-antimagic material.
As to the second part of this question. Yes. There is a myth, but it has been so twisted that the names have been completely changed and lost and the two swords simply become "an item of great power". This myth is only known by a tribe of merfolk more than three hundred thousand leagues away from the actual site of the great fortress of Relaganali (now on the peak of Mount Ragdadli). They also know only the general direction of the mountain. The cliffs of the peak are also so sheer that the peak can only be reached by a series of dangerous tunnels making their way to the top of the mountain where a fierce ancient red dragon (whose name is Ragdali'an'shmitasta if you care to know) resides. Maybe someone has guessed this off of some random whim, but they probably have never had any intention of actually climbing the mountain or braving the tunnels.

They can be used as normal blade or float around and fight on their own. (can be flown through the air awkward) Okay, when thrown they can exceed the 8 foot radius? And they can come back to the owner? So why can't they go farther than that normally?

The blades are not thrown. Because the blades are scimitars, this would be quite awkward. They are controlled in the air via the link. But yes, they may also use their experience and fight on their own. They can also be projected OUTSIDE of the "control radius" but cannot be controlled outside of it. When called back, they travel as straight as possible back to the control radius. They are not able to be controlled outside the control radius because the bearer does not have the perfect "oneness of mind" with the blades as he or she does when the blades' true names are revealed.

The skills section should be near the top... you added it here as an afterthought why?

I simply don't have the format of the site down.

The Twin Blades have no weight when wielded because the blades sense what the wielder is trying to do and move in that direction. Along these lines, it is impossible for the blades to cut the bearer no matter how hard he or she tries unless he or she does something truly evil and unnecessary, the blades will turn on the bearer and kill him or her.
Okay, entire section awkward. weapons without weight do little to no damage unless the blades have magical cutting power (mass = power, which modified by edge determines damage). The unable to injure bearer section should be seperate and explained

The blades have weight. They just don't SEEM to have weight when wielded because the blades know where to go and move mostly on their own. The bearer simply guides them where he or she wants them to go.

The blade cannot injure the bearer. This cannot be explained in any conventional sense. The blades refuse to. They will not participate in this whether accidental or purposeful. They are fully sentient objects that have a sense of moral and their own separate consciences and consciousnesses.

So how often can they emit the destroy all Evil field? And if you are surrouned by Evil, why ever seperate your blades? You could walk through the horde and destroy them all. Does it last for a short time and take some recharge time?

The first question is true. The second I don't really understand, but if you think the ability only acts when the blades are together this is true. The ability also only works when the blades are in hand. NOT floating through the air. Also, most creatures, denizens of planes of existence, etc. are not purely evil. Instead, the blades may simply act as though normal blades when striking these "neutral aggressive" monsters. Also your question brings in a whole new dimension. What about possession by an evil being? The evil will simply be destroyed while the being remains. A being does not have to be obliterated or cut to tiny bits for the Celestial Cleansing to have effect, it simply has to be struck.
As to your last question: no, there is no recharge time Celestial Cleansing kicks in whenever the blades come in contact with evil.

A warrior or better yet a wizard quests to find these so he can free his love/king/mind and once he has them he is ready for the final battle. The only akward thing is he discovers the blades are two Harold and Loyd style smartasses. It would add a nice bit of levity to a final conflict.

Freetext

Diseased people, (leprosy or any other such fear inducing disease) when traveling, will often times wear a cloak that entirely covers their body and ring a bell as they travel, used as a warning for any others to stay away. Could be used for a disguise or safe passage. ... you meet strangely cloaked people, sometimes ringing a bell. "Please give us something to eat, mighty heroes!" This is time to show how good they are.